Horseshoe Park in Queen Creek looks to bring in more events

Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre aims to host more events in the upcoming fiscal year.

The proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget for the event space is $3.1 million, down 19% from the current fiscal year. The park is under the town’s economic development department.

Planned improvements under the proposed budget include a drainage study to analyze needs for potential capital improvement projects.

According to budget documents, the town aims to host 195 equestrian-driven event days and 35 non-equestrian event days.

The 38-acre Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre was founded in 2009, and the town has invested resources and capital improvements as part of an effort to attract, retain and grow events.

Currently, Queen Creek is inviting interested development teams, restaurant operators and commercial partners to vie for a potential ground lease and development opportunity for a full-service restaurant or complementary commercial use at Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre.

The request “is intended to gauge market interest and qualifications and will be used to inform potential next steps, which may include a future request for proposals,” according to the town’s Economic Development Department.

The intention of a restaurant or commercial use is to “enhance the experience at Horseshoe Park while maintaining the park’s tradition of providing the full equestrian experience,” the town stated.

Various town businesses sponsor sites at the park.

Last year, the Chapman Automotive Group retained the naming rights for Arena 1. Under the five-year contract, Chapman Automotive Group agreed to pay $135,000 annually, payable in advance each year for a total of $675,000. Arena 1 is 150 feet by 300 feet and is the site of many of the park’s largest events.

In December, a new 40-foot LED sign for the Horseshoe Park & Recreation Centre was erected. The new sign replaces a 30-foot one adjacent to Riggs Road. It also replaces the old sign as the tallest in Queen Creek. The sign includes a double-sided, 128-square-foot LED animated sign.

The town raised $267,500 of the sign’s estimated cost by February 2025, with Earnhardt Auto Centers kicking in $124,000 as a platinum sponsor. According to the town, the cost of the new sign was $433,866 with the total cost of the project set at $535,000. The town was expected to pay the balance of the cost.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.